“A good way to be,” Derik said with a nod, noting the slightest bit of warmth had crept back into this shrewish woman. Despite all her complaints about Ash and his brother, it seemed she had a certain sort of admiration beneath it all. “I’ve heard the library here is nothing short of breathtaking as well.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
(Shrewish is a very good descriptor of her I kind of based her vibes off of Aughra from The Dark Crystal)
"If readings your thing," she said dismissively. "Nothing can compare to the atmosphere a good storyteller builds. Stories are fluid things; paper keeps them all pent up."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(ooh nice! I am not familiar, but I like her! I foresee her hurting Jerica's pride in the future and being a constant source of stress to Derik about leaving the two of them alone lol poor Derik is going to feel like he's wrangling cats this whole visit I can see it now xD)
"There's more to books than stories," Derik countered. "I've learned more things from books than I can count. It'd take dozens of scholars to teach me such an eclectic selection of topics as I've learned from libraries, and relies solely on your memory afterwards besides if you want to retain it all, rather than simply look it up again if the details get fuzzy. Stories can afford to change; facts can't, unless otherwise disproven."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
(Haha just wait til Gaius enters the picture. And Tomhas)
"True." She nodded. "Facts can be stored in libraries, certainly, but I just don't see the reason for works of fiction to go in there."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(Oh god I forgot about how disastrous Tomhas/Jer is gonna be xD)
“To each their own,” Derik said with nod. “I’m not a big story reader, either. Though I can see the value. Especially to preserve the stories of cultures that have ceased existing… but I agree I’d prefer a storyteller than a storybook, in general. Or a bard or jester. There’s something to be said for communal entertainment.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Exactly! The Northerners have lost touch with the old ways--especially Lord Ash. He'll be coughing up dust for all the time he spends in that library."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Derik smirked a little. “Well, I’m happy he’s got something he enjoys. It’s always good to encourage harmless pastimes.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Heh, you'd think it would be harmless." She shook her head.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“How is it not?” Jerica asked curiously. Who knew books could be a source of mischief? Maybe she should pay them more mind…
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"If one reads too long without stopping, they'll just wither away." D'Ara glanced at her. "Or, more commonly, they spark questions. Politicians don't like it when people ask questions."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Dangerous ones. Questions about taxes, laws, crops. Politicians like to keep their subjects illiterate for a reason."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“Most of our soldiers aren’t illiterate anymore,” Jerica announced proudly, distracted. “I made ‘em put a bookshelf in the barracks when I started training so they’d all be able to read if they wanna.”
‘Made’ might have been a bit of a strong word, but Derik wasn’t going to grudge her it. It had been her idea, and she had been fully prepared to raise a stink about it if he hadn’t agreed quickly. Which he had. It hadn’t really crossed his mind before Jerica brought it up, but he fully agreed with her once he thought about it. An educated military made for better soldiers, provided he treated them right. Which he did.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"That's admirable," D'Ara said with a nod. "Reading's very important, especially in this day and age where all the laws are written down. Lawspeakers are fading out of style."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Jerica puffed up a little, pleased with the positive feedback.
"Couldn't agree more," Derik agreed absently, glancing ahead at the ever-nearing Keep Wall. "Any ideas on what we can anticipate when we arrive? Security checkpoints and such we should be aware of?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Spend your days thinking about things that are good and true and beautiful and noble, and you will become good and true and beautiful and noble. — Matthew Kelly
